Jannik Sinner is less critical of the tennis schedule than some other players, but his comments about the subject were not well received by one of Roger Federer's ex-coaches.
More players on the ATP and WTA Tours have spoken this year about their frustrations with the length and intensity of the tennis season. Iga Swiatek has been the most vocal WTA voice, repeatedly saying the grueling calendar will cause injuries and long-term damage.
Alexander Zverev might be the ATP's harshest critic on the issue. He accused the governing body of not caring about the players and said it is only interested in profiting from their efforts.
Carlos Alcaraz also thinks the season should be shorter, while Taylor Fritz admitted he has been feeling pretty awful in comments that included him saying the schedule was overly long.
By contrast, Sinner was much more diplomatic. While acknowledging that the season was long, he said players do not have to compete in every tournament and can effectively plan their schedules.
Those remarks did not go down well with Ugo Humbert. The French player stated Sinner was not thinking clearly when he said that since it is much easier for him to play fewer events as the world's No. 1 player.
Humbert is the sole player who has publicly responded to Sinner's comments about the tennis calendar. It is uncertain whether other players, especially those lower down the rankings, were irritated by his words.
Another notable figure who disapproves of Sinner's remarks is Paul Annacone, who used to coach Federer and Pete Sampras. During his playing career, the 61-year-old reached No. 12 in the singles rankings.
Speaking to the Tennis Channel, Annacone said it is easier for Sinner, one of the world's best players, to play less, but electing to compete in fewer tournaments is a more complicated decision for others for many reasons.
"I loved hearing Jannik Sinner say, ‘Yeah, that’s a lot of tennis. There’s too many tournaments. But if you don’t want to play, don’t play.' it’s not as simple as that to say if you don’t want to play, you don’t play. But the structure of the professional tour is really fractured, and always has been."
"Obviously, it’s easier when you’re one of the best players in the world, but if you’re going to be competing in year-end championships, trying to meet your commitments in terms of teams, sponsorships, partners, etc., it’s very difficult to determine when not to play."
Annacone retains a sense of perspective in his comments. Despite coaching Federer and Sampras, two of the best players in tennis history, he knows that scheduling decisions for lower-ranked players are different.
Proponents of shortening the calendar might argue that it would prevent lower-ranked players from straining themselves by playing tournaments every week because they fear the consequences of slipping even further down the rankings.
However, Sinner did not express that view, and it is understandable that Humbert and Annacone feel he did not consider players who are not as highly ranked enough in his comments.